On-Demand: An Ethics Blueprint for Publishing Professionals

Tutor: Randy Townsend, Inaugural Editor-in-Chief, GW Journal of Ethics in Publishing

In today’s publishing landscape, the ability to navigate ethical challenges is as essential as mastering editorial or marketing skills. “An Ethics Blueprint for Publishing Professionals” is a practical, thought-provoking online course designed for early career professionals who want to build a strong ethical foundation for their work in books, journals, and digital media.

Guided by Randy Townsend, you’ll learn how to recognize and address common ethical dilemmas in publishing—ranging from conflicts of interest and plagiarism to issues of inclusivity, transparency, and responsibility to readers and authors. You’ll also gain insight into the evolving role of AI in shaping publishing culture, and how ethical decision-making strengthens trust, credibility, and long-term success in the field.

Whether you’re in editorial, production, marketing, or rights management, this course equips you with the ethical awareness and tools to thrive in your career—and to contribute meaningfully to a publishing industry that values integrity as much as innovation.

This course utilises videos, quizzes, downloadable documents, and interactive content to provide a comprehensive and engaging syllabus, which is comprised of four modules: 

• Peer Review Ethics and Editorial Responsibility
• Plagiarism, Fabrication, Falsification, and Conflicts of Interest
• Policy Clarity and Transparent Dispute Resolution
• AI and Innovation in Ethical Publishing

Each module is designed to take approximately one hour, but with the content broken down into handy, bite-sized chunks, this allows you to complete it in your own time and at a pace that suits you. 

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, you will be able to: 

1. Define and explain core concepts in publishing ethics, including plagiarism, fabrication, falsification, conflicts of interest, data integrity, bias, spin, and image manipulation.
   
2. Apply best practices in peer review, emphasizing confidentiality, constructive feedback, and identification of predatory publishing practices.
   
3. Analyze and address ethical challenges in policy clarity, dispute resolution, authorship, helicopter research, and misconduct allegations.
   
4. Evaluate the role of AI and emerging technologies in scholarly publishing for transparency, workflow impact, and policy compliance.
   
5. Mitigate risks of AI misuse, such as hallucinations, bias, and policy gaps, through structured oversight and quality controls. 
   
6. Promote trust and accountability in scholarly publishing by integrating ethics, responsible innovation, and fair evaluation practices

 

Tutor Profile

Professor Randy Townsend is a visionary leader who transforms organizational goals into powerful, actionable strategies that drive collaboration, success, and integrity. With nearly two decades of expertise, Randy has been at the forefront of policy innovation and publishing strategy, setting new standards for responsible publishing practices and research integrity. He is a sought-after speaker, author, and collaborator.

During his term as President of the Society for Scholarly Publishing (SSP), Randy ignited a groundbreaking mental health awareness movement that resonated across the entire industry. His leadership extends to influential roles with the Council of Science Editors and the AM&P Network’s Association Council, where he has championed ethical standards and shaped the future of scholarly communication.

A champion of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA), Randy has co-chaired pivotal DEIA committees for both the AM&P Network and SSP, and actively contributes to C4DISC. His annual course on Creating an Inclusive Culture for ALPSP empowers organizations to foster environments where everyone thrives.

As the founding Editor-in-Chief of the award-winning GW Journal of Ethics in Publishing, Randy is dedicated to promoting research integrity and nurturing the next generation of leaders committed to ethical publishing. In addition, he serves as an Associate Professor in George Washington University’s #1-ranked Master of Professional Studies in Publishing Program, where he continues to inspire and shape the future of publishing.

Most recently, Randy has been named a Chef for The Scholarly Kitchen, the prominent scholarly communications blog central to the most important industry discussions.